Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-24
AMONG TIE MEXlGANS
CELEBRATING THE NATIONS
BIRTHDAY IN SPANISH STYLE.
Story Of the Cure. Miguel HidaIgo
Costello, and His Celebrated
"Grito de Dolores"

Bells are ringing, cannon booming and
great doings going on all over the country,
in the annual celebration Of national indie
pendence Though in matters of business
Mexicans are slower than Father Time as
pictured in the primer, acting always upon
the revised axiom, Never do TODAY what
can be put off until tomorrow" they eel
citrate with heart and soul, regardless Of
expense. Agreeing with the ancient
worthy who remarked that time was made
for slaves, these proud descendants of the
Montezumas care little how old Tempus
may proceed with his .tugitiag, and make
life pretty much holiday. All their
festas are long ones and, naturally, this
most important Of the year-September
10th, the nations natal dav-lasts not less
than week, and is celebrated with the
greatest enthusiasm.
In universal rejoicing over their liberia
ton from the clutch Of Spain, Mexicans
do not commemorate the day of the decla :
ration of independence, as do we. Of the
older republic, but that on which the first
open attempt was made to throw off the
yoke of the oppressor. Their George
Washington
THE CURE, HIDALGo,
In whose honor all the bells of Mexico are
clamoring together, has long been canon
lied Though executed like criminal
only - years ago, he is to-day regarded as
martyr, and the sun in all his course sees
not more hallowed spot than the little
church of Dolores wherein his rebellious
"grito" (cry) was raised
Without dipping deeply into history, Il
brief summary of the important events of
that stormy time will enable us TO enjoy
this tumultuous jubilee with the spirit
and the understanding" The story of the
early Aztecs, which is at once poem and a
tragedy, is familiar to all, for Prescott and
other historians have set forth in vivid
colors their Acadian life, virtue, simplicity
and lofty sense of honor. Then came the
greedy Spaniards lin 1919, with their
velvet banners on which were appropriately
embazoned a blood-red crucifix in the
midst of blue and white flames, and be-
meath it the motto in Latin, "Let us follow
the cross, and in that sign we shall con-
quer." Throughout their long career of
rapine and murder, the crusadfng adven-
turers were faithful in their devotion to
the motto, for to the wondering and limo
cent natives, Cortez and the equally in
famous Pedro de Alvarado, offered the
alternative of the cross or the sword, and
gave them both, during three centuries of
the most diabolical atrocities ever perpe-
trated in the name of religion.
A al, Ion r Al. Il
fury most abominable state of society
existed iii Mexico. The Spaniards-com
paratively few in numbers, but all-powerful
in wealth and infuence-ruled the coun-
try with an iron hand. The native Mexi-
cans, though in the vast majority, had been
so weakened by centuries Of serfdom, srl-
perstition and tyranny, helpless and hope
less, that only in deep canyons of the
mountains or in the silent depths of the
forest, dared Liberty to secretly whisper her
principles. The only bond between the
proud lherian and the degraded American
races was found in
LAS CRIoLLAs,"
The mixed descendants of the conquerors
and the conquered; for however much the
naughty scions Of CASTLE despised the sons
of Mexico, they had found her daughters
irresistible. During the three hundred
years Of Spanish occupation these Criolla:
had grown to great numerical proportions
They retained all the fire and ambition O
their sires, and had inherited as well th,
unfading memory, watchful patience, sus
picious alertness, and undying love of lib
erty peculiar to the Indian race. As ;
rule they were well educated, and. being
prejudiecd, both by birth and tradition
against agricultural pursuits (which, in
deed, offered no inducements in Mexico
since Spain would inevitably seize thei,
profits, most OF the rising race of mer
embraced the clerical, medical, or lega
profession. This brought them into ever
closer contact and sympathy with the op
pressed people Of their mothers blood, fol
whom to break the shacllles of tyranny be,
came the ruling passion.
With unaccountable blindness the Span.
iards Of those days denied their descend
ants any part in the administration of The
government. They. doubtless feared, and
not without reason, that these sons Of
Mexico would not be sufficiently plia5le il
the hands Of emissaries and too lenient TO.
ward the race of their mothers. Regard.
ing Mexico only rs a source of revenue
from which to grind the last particle OF
gold, Spain considered no method too Sc
we're in the accomplishment of this object
and protected the natives as they did the
cattle, irrespective of their rights as hui
man beings, simply that they might pro
duce more cattle and more wealth.
Many covert council and many mid
night meeting these Criollas held to con.
slider their rights aud the means of obtain
ing them. Thwarted in every peaceable
attempt to Secure the slightest show of Jus
tice, there remained but to demand it al
the point of the sword Many preciou.
secrets persisted with Hidalgo and his fol.
lowers, but hundreds of traditions are still
extant concerning those early heroes Of
Mexican independence and the "eternal
vigilance" which was to them the price
of liberty" or more frequently that of q
martyrs crown. Every city in Mexico
had Its secret societies, and sessions were
nightly held to quicken the spirit of free.
dom, SO that it was impossible for the
royal nostrils to remain insensible of the
incense burning upon a thousand affairs.
Napoleon had overthrown Carlos "
and Spain was dominated by the French
Knowing well that liberty in any degree
meant the death-knell Of monarchy in
Mexico, the newly-arrived Vicerov. Fran.
cisco Javier de Nenegas, left no means I'm.
tried to crush us devotees BY this mis-.
taken course Spain divorced the sympathy
of the only class who could haze united
the opposing elaments in bonds of peace
and drove the Criollas to plot in secret for
THE oPE@RTUNE MOMENT
When to Mexico would be born a son
whose name should be Emanuel, the deIiv-
erer
The expected offspring was provided for
with the determination that when its birth
should be heraldeS the child of liherty
would be defended al any cost All prep.
arations for this event had been made. the
guests invited, the syaddling-clothes al
hand, and from a humble cradle in san
Juan de los Lagos it was intended to send
forth the cry of " Defiance to Spain. In,
dependence for Mexieea" But trusted
servants betrayed the plan. Furious al
the opposition to his authority and fearful
of the consequences that aust follow an
uprising-as Herod sent ont his soldiers Ia
slay all the children in Judee so that the
general destruction might include the in
FAINT Christ-Ne Regas overwIeame Mexico
with his armies SO that no shelter might
remain for the coming child.
Hunted, prosecuted and distressed, Lib
u